Home page About us Instruction Guiding Locations map Gift vouchers Prices Articles Contact us Accommodation Links	Fly Casting Instruction on the River Avon by Mr. J.B.S. Notley J.B.S. "Jack" Notley fished the River Avon for over 80 years. He was born in 1893 at Diptford Rectory. Jack began teaching fishing and fly casting on the Avon in 1919 and continued for over 50 years. Two of his first clients were Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught. The Prince was a grandson of Queen Victoria. Mr. Notley knew John James Hardy personally and through him he "got more pupils than I could deal with and had to turn some down". John James and his brother William formed the tackle firm Hardy Brothers in 1873. In 1911 J.J. Hardy became World Champion Fly Caster with a a world record cast of 81 feet. Jack Notley died in 1988. This page contains the text from a leaflet he distributed outlining his approach to teaching fly fishing and casting. His views are still valid. He stresses the importance of learning to roll (switch) cast and learning to cope with overhanging bankside vegetation as well as the importance of balancing rod and line. Jack knew how to overcome client's casting faults such as the 'broken wrist' and using too much force instead of allowing the rod to cast the line. Jack Notley was not enamoured of modern fast actioned 'tippy' rods.  He used - and sold - split cane rods which were made to his specifications by John Bazett in Salisbury. I know several current casting instructors who have rediscovered the qualities of a good split cane rod.
FISHING as a Sport is appreciated by many, but there are many more who would gladly avail themselves of the chance of participating in it, did they but realize that facilities are available whereby they may receive thorough tuition and sound advice with an average chance of sport on actual fishing preserves, and so be relieved of the monotony which obtains when attempting to learn under less favourable conditions. There are Schools for Casting, but Casting is not Fishing, nevertheless the angler who can competently handle his rod and tackle and place his fly or lure wherever he desires, not only when conditions are propitious, but also when they are unfavourable, will have a reasonable chance of success. It is rather surprising, but nevertheless true, that whereas the business man studies for his special line of business and probably spends years learning and perfecting the intricacies thereof, yet the would-be angler buys an outfit to suit his pocket, goes down to the waterside and "worries along" somehow, when by a small judicial outlay he or she, as the case may be, can learn to handle a rod and line under natural conditions on well stocked rivers. And as regards choice of Tackle, he or she can take down to the riverside rods of various lengths, weights and balances and thoroughly try them out so that a suitable one may be selected, for no more can a fisherman cast well with a rod unsuited to him than can a sportsman shoot well with a gun that does not fit. A fly may be cast on a lawn, but the art of placing a fly on the water in the most tempting manner, overcoming obstacles, and luring a fish to its undoing, can only be learnt under natural conditions. A man may purchase a set of Golf Clubs and learn a perfect swing on his own lawn, but that will not make him a good Golfer; he can only become proficient by playing Golf on a Golf course, where he learns how to judge length, overcome obstacles, shorten his grip or alter his stance. So with the Angler; in order to become proficient he must learn under natural conditions, where obstacles are met with in the shape of bushes. and trees, and where the wind is generally blowing the wrong way. Why is it that one angler fishing a pool fails to rise a fish and another coming along behind him hooks one in the same pool? It is because the latter has the knack of placing his fly or lure in such a way that it is irresistible to the fish. There is far more in fishing than the majority of anglers realize, and in order to be really successful it is necessary to be able to handle with ease a fairly long line, and to place your lure where you wish, whether the elements be in opposition to you and bushes abound on all sides or no. To some it may come as a surprise to learn that with a high bank or bushes 10 ft. behind it is a simple matter to cast 30 ft. or so straight out or to either side; this is done by means of the switch cast, which can be learnt in one or, at the most, two lessons. One of the reasons that anglers fail to catch trout when conditions are favourable is because they cannot handle their rod and line as they should do, for it is under the bushes that the fish lie, sucking in the tasty tit-bits that drop from their leaves and branches, and also gaining shelter therefrom: these are the easiest trout to catch, provided that you can get your fly over them, as they are not disturbed as much as are their fellows, lying in open stretches of water, which water, being free from obstruction, is constantly flogged. After over 70 years of fishing and over 50 years of tuition in both casting and fishing, numerous opportunities have occurred of observing where the average angler fails. The chief reason is failure to handle the rod correctly. As in shooting, it is very rarely the gun or cartridge that is at fault, it is the man behind the gun; and so in fishing under average conditions, it is rarely the rod or fly that causes empty creels, but the person behind the rod. If an angler can cast a fairly long line accurately, and cast under bushes, fish should generally be caught; the better the day, the heavier the creel. The usual tendencies of the average fisherman are to use quite an appreciable amount of effort in casting the fly, making use of the whole rod and not the top only when making the "quickness" or " flip" in both back and forward casts, and also -leaning forward and stretching out the arm. Casting should be effortless, and should cause no strain or ache, and it will not do so if the correct action and timing are made. The actual casting is done with the right forearm and shoulder (if right-handed and using a single-handed fly rod), and the cast should be made slightly across the body, In the back cast the right forearm and shoulder are drawn back and the body allowed to swing to the right. It is all very simple and easy, and there is practically no wrist work at all, but so many anglers make casting look like hard work. One cannot learn to cast correctly by reading how it should be done, it is very necessary to have it demonstrated and explained by the waterside. Casting cannot be learnt on a lawn as there is no" pull" on the fly when making the back cast, neither can anyone learn to fish unless one has tuition under natural conditions. This has been proved over and over again by the number of pupils the writer has had, who have previously received tuition in casting and fishing on some pond or similar water, and who had no idea of how to approach a rising fish or how to cast under bushes. This latter can only be learnt successfully by having tuition where there are bushes. What a pleasure an angler would derive if able to cast a straight line against a moderate breeze; it can be done, and the effort required is negligible, just the correct action and timing; but how many can do so? Clients can be taught with their own rods, but it is advisable that beginners do not purchase an outfit before coming down for lessons, as a large supply of rods and tackle is kept in stock, and the pupil can "tryout" on the river whatever he fancies, and so choose exactly what suits him best. It is impossible to get the best out of a rod unless the line fits it correctly, and it is surprising the number of anglers one meets who use lines of a gauge and weight that are quite unsuited to their rods. It is a mistaken idea that in order to cast a fly 40 ft. to 50 ft. any strength is required; no effort is necessary provided rod and line are suited to one another, and the cast is "timed" correctly. A beginner owes it to himself to have tuition and so prevent any chance of getting a bad start, for it is as easy to commence correctly as incorrectly, yet how many get the opportunity? 'Sound beginnings spell ultimate success'. Bad habits are as easily acquired in fishing as in other sports, and it is necessary for these to be corrected. Anglers of some experience may possibly find difficulty in casting under overhanging branches or against the wind, one or two lessons on the rivers here where every kind of obstacle can be found, though there is plenty of "open water" too, should quickly put them right. Arrangements can be made if required, whereby clients may be taught on their home waters.  Within a few miles of the School of Casting is one of the finest Trout streams in the West Country. Little known and little fished, a grand Fly river and no short risers. I have fished it over 40 years and much prefer it to any of the numerous rivers I have fished including the Kennett and Lambourn. Ticket and Licences always available on 12 miles of water. RODS. I am not at all enamoured with the modern Fly rod, which, in my humble opinion, is too stiff and quickactioned, and the rings are much too small. A Fly rod with a stiff or quick-actioned top prevents one from placing the fly accurately under. bushes, also when striking or playing a heavy fish the top, being stiff, does not "give" enough, and so if using light tackle a breakage may occur. As regards rings, they should be large, but light in weight, so that line may be "shot" easily in wet squally weather. A first class rod builder with over 40 years of experience behind him is now building rods for me, so that I can offer first quality well finished split cane Fly rods of different lengths with the best possible action for fishing purposes, and with light weight rings, and real Agate butt and end rings. These rods are by no means "whippy", they are exact copies of my own rods, most of which I have had in constant use for over 30 years; they have a stiffish butt and middle, but there is plenty of action in the tops. This allows one to lift a long line from the water in the back cast, and easily drive it forward in the forward cast, even against the wind, but at the same time the easy action in the top prevents breakages when striking or playing a heavy fish. All classes of Fly rods in stock have this action and large rings, and are faithful copies of my own rods.  SILKWORM GUT. This comes direct from one of the best firms in Murcia, Spain, and only Champion quality is stocked. Salmon, Sea Trout and Trout Casts, also Gut Points. FLIES. All Duns are tied with Natural undyed hackles. Only the best quality hackles and hooks are used; no dyed hackles except for Salmon and Sea Trout flies. All dry flies have stiff glossy hackles. As flies are tied on the premises any special pattern can be made up at very short notice. Fly dressing materials-Hooks, Silks, Tinsels, Natural Dun Hackles, etc., always in stock. LINES. Kingfisher Double tapered Silk Fly Lines in all sizes. Also Silk backing. REELS. Beaudex, Pridex, etc. in all sizes Also Fly Boxes, Folding Landing Nets, and everything pertaining to Angling is kept in stock.